Flexible connectors for water heater
A water heater includes a tank defining an interior space adapted to contain water and a shroud over the water heater and defining a component space inside the shroud. A first pipe nipple is coupled to a spud of the water heater, the first pipe nipple and spud defining a non-collinear axis that is non-collinear with a pipe axis of a pipe to be fluidly connected to the tank. A flexible connector is connected at one end to the first pipe nipple along the non-collinear axis. A second end of the flexible connector is positioned collinear with the pipe axis. A second pipe nipple is coupled at one end to the second end of the flexible connector and coupled at an opposite end with the pipe. Fluid communication is established between the pipe and the interior space of the tank through the pipe nipple and flexible connector.
1 . A water heater plumbing connection system, comprising:
a top surface of a water heater;
a torque carrier secured to the top surface of the water heater;
a fluid connection assembly having a first portion arranged within the torque carrier and a threaded end arranged outside of the torque carrier; and
a plurality of fasteners that secure the torque carrier to the top surface, wherein a connection between the plurality of fasteners and the top surface is configured to resist a torque applied to the threaded end of the fluid connection assembly during an installation of the water heater.
2 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises a hex nut, the hex nut being configured to transfer said torque from the threaded end of the fluid connection assembly to the torque carrier.
3 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 2 , wherein the torque carrier comprises a sleeve having a hexagonal shaped internal surface to receive the hex nut.
4 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 3 , wherein the top surface comprises a circular aperture, wherein the fluid connection assembly has a central axis, and wherein each one of the plurality of fasteners is spaced away from said central axis by a distance greater than a radius of the circular aperture.
5 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fasteners comprises at least three fasteners.
6 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 1 , wherein the torque carrier includes a sleeve and a base extending radially away from sleeve, and wherein the base is mounted to the top surface.
7 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 6 , wherein the torque carrier includes a plurality of gussets that extend between the sleeve and the base.
8 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 6 , wherein the base includes a circumferential rim, and wherein radial ribs extend between the sleeve and the circumferential rim.
9 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 8 , wherein the base includes mounting holes for receiving the plurality of fasteners, and wherein the mounting holes extend through the radial ribs.
10 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 9 , wherein the base includes a first side that faces the top surface and a second side opposite of the first side, and wherein the first side includes the radial ribs and the second side is generally planar.
11 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the water heater includes a second torque carrier secured to the top surface of the water heater via a second plurality of fasteners.
12 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 1 , wherein the torque carrier is formed using a dielectric material configured to provide galvanic isolation between the fluid connection assembly and the top surface of the water heater.
13 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 1 , wherein the threaded end of the fluid connection assembly is a first threaded end, the fluid connection assembly having a second threaded end spaced away from the first threaded end and threaded into a tank spud of the water heater.
14 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 13 , wherein the first threaded end defines a first longitudinal axis and the second threaded end defines a second longitudinal axis, wherein an angle defined between the second longitudinal axis and the first longitudinal axis is greater than zero degrees.
15 . A water heater plumbing connection system, comprising:
a shroud top of a water heater at least partially defining a component space;
a torque carrier arranged at a top surface of the shroud top, the torque carrier defining a plurality of loadbearing surfaces; and
a fluid connection assembly extending through the torque carrier and comprising a threaded end arranged outside of the component space, wherein a torque applied to the threaded end during installation of the water heater is distributed to the shroud top by way of the plurality of loadbearing surfaces.
16 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 15 , wherein the torque carrier is integrally formed with the shroud top.
17 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 15 , wherein the torque carrier is joined to shroud top by a plurality of fasteners and wherein the torque is distributed from the plurality of loadbearing surfaces to the shroud top by way of the plurality of fasteners.
18 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 17 , wherein the torque carrier comprises a flat base portion joined to the shroud top and a sleeve portion extending from the flat base portion, the plurality of loadbearing surfaces being arranged within the sleeve portion.
19 . The water heater plumbing connection system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of loadbearing surfaces define a hexagonal shape.